The Anglo Saxons Effect on the English Language

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This essay will explore which time period has been the most influential, this is the Anglo Saxons. “Anglo-Saxon” is the term applied to the English-speaking inhabitants of Britain from around the middle of the fifth century until the time of the Norman Conquest, when the Anglo-Saxon line of English kings came to an end. According to the Venerable Bede, whose Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum [Ecclesiastical History of the English People], completed in the year 731, is the most important source for the early history of England, the Anglo-Saxons arrived in the island of Britain during the reign of Martian, who in 449 became co-emperor of the Roman Empire with Valentinian III and ruled for seven years. The important time period in my opinion is the Anglo Saxons. Before they invaded Britain had been inhabited by the speakers of Celtic languages. The Scots and Picts in the North, and in the south various groups which had been united under Roman rule since their conquest by the Emperor Claudius in AD43. By the beginning of the fifth century the Roman Empire was under increasing pressure from advancing barbarians and the Roman Garrisons in Britain were being depleted as troops were withdrawn to face threats closer to home. In AD410 the same year in which the Visigoths entered and forgot Rome, the last of the Roman Troops were withdrawn and the Britons had to defend themselves. Facing hostile Picts and Scots in the North and Germanic raiders in the East, the Britons decided to hire one enemy to fight the other; they engaged Germanic mercenaries to fight the Picts and Scots. This had an important impact on the English Language because it was during the reign of Martian that the newly - hired mercenaries arrived. These were from three Germanic nations situated near the northern coasts of Europe; the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes. According to the Bede, the

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